(pt. 1)
On the day she attempted this amazing feat the weather was foggy and cold; so foggy that she could hardly see the rescue boats that were accompanying her. Still she set out and she swam and she swam and she swam…for fifteen hours straight she swam! When she begged to be taken out of the water, her mother, in a boat nearby, told her she was close and that she could do it.
Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted Florence stopped swimming and was pulled out of the water. It was not until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day she made this memorable statement, “All I could see was the fog….I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it!”
The shoreline of heaven is set before us in Hi-Definition clarity in the final two chapters of Revelation. May God grant us eyes to see and ears to hear the glories of heaven.
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“And I Saw” -Revelation
21:1-2
“And I Heard” -Revelation
21:3-4
The Sights and Sounds of Heaven- The first thing John sees is:
1) A WHOLE NEW WORLD (TO COME)
Revelation 21:1- Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
Revelation 21:7- He who overcomes shall inherit these things- How
do the sights and sounds of heaven encourage believers to persevere until the end? (Colossians 3:1-2; Philippians 3:12-14; Matthew 6:19-21).
For Further Reflection/Application:
We
must be doers of the Word and
not merely hearers
How
did the preacher tie in the Florence Chadwick story with the Christian life/race
and with Rev. 21-22? “All I could see was the fog…If I had seen
the shore, I would have made it!”
When
times are tough believers are tempted to despair (and to either give up or give
in).
However,
when times are really good we are tempted to make this world our home.
Read
the lyrics in Steve Curtis Chapman’s song-“Not Home Yet.”
Which
of the two temptations (despair or a sinful preoccupation with the temporal
things of this world) are you more prone to give into? When was the last time
you felt this temptation (and/or gave into this temptation)? How can a
Christian enjoy the many blessings of life in this world without losing sight
of his/her eternal home and future destiny?
Why
are Christians referred to as “aliens and strangers,” “pilgrims,” and “citizens
of heaven?”
Phil.
3:20-21; Heb. 11:10-16. It is difficult
to be in the world but not of it.
How
is worldliness and materialism related to us not being heavenly-minded?
See
Matt. 6:19-21; Col. 3:1-2; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Peter 2:11.
How
does setting our mind and our affections on the glories of heaven help wean us
off of worldly obsessions and material things?
Do
you believe the “new earth” will be a completely new world or that it will be a
completely renovated creation? Explain
why you believe this.
Rev.
21:1- “There will be no more sea.” The
salty brine of the sea purges, cleanses, and preserves our planet, making it
fit to live in… Now read Revelation 21:4-5
In
the Bible the sea was often associated with unrest, violence, and trouble (note
Psalm 107:25-28; Ezk. 28:8; Is. 57:20; Rev. 13:1)
How
can one read, study, and/or preach Rev. 21:1-4 and not get goosebumps? Be encouraged!
How
does the future help work through earthly setbacks and physical suffering
(note
2 Cor. 4:16-18)?
The
sights and sounds of heaven beckon us to keep on keeping on!
Rev.
21 and 22 is a biblical lighthouse that shines upon our path as we go through
this world. It also helps us to see
“heaven’s shore” so that we don’t give up as Florence Chadwick did.
Related Praise Songs: Theology
fuels Doxology! We dig deeply in order
that we may go high!
One
Day (When We All Get to Heaven)- Matt Redman’
Majesty
of Heaven- Chris Tomlin
Not
Home Yet- Steve Curtis Chapman
Is He
Worthy- Andrew Peterson
City Called
Heaven- Jubilant Sykes
Glorious
Day (Living He Love Me)
Amazing
Grace-
Eternal Praise- Enfield
When the Roll is Called Up Yonder
Related Scripture
Passages: Search the Scriptures to see if these things be so.
Revelation 21:1-8; John 14:1-6; Col. 3:1-2; Phil. 3:14,
20-21; Isaiah 65:17; Luke 21:23;
1 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Isaiah 24:15; 57:20;
